Why Fentanyl Cleanup is Crucial

Nov 27, 2017

Fentanyl has been the cause of one of the largest drug epidemics in the country. Fentanyl is a secret killer. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Often laced into heroin, a mere few specs of fentanyl can cause an overdose, whereas it takes a small spoon of heroin. Because it is so lethal, fentanyl cleanup is crucial. New Hampshire leads the states in opiate-related death, of the 439 overdoses in 2015, 70 percent of those were fentanyl-related. The danger fentanyl presents to first responders and those who enter the scene after the fact, is the reason why fentanyl cleanup is crucial

Due to its potency. fentanyl originated as a pain medication for cancer patients for pain breakthroughs, this is still the only certified use of fentanyl. Now, it is on the streets, extracted from patches or made synthetically in a clandestine drug lab, the heroine is often laced with fentanyl in order to provide a more intense high. If fentanyl is on scene, it is crucial a decontamination company clear the scene.

Fentanyl cleanup is crucial because it can easily be the cause of an overdose. Fentanyl can be injected, like heroin, but presents an even larger danger for the first responders or civilians if they enter a clandestine drug lab. Fentanyl can be inhaled if it has entered the air, or absorbed through the skin if touched. Last year, eleven SWAT officers in Connecticut, became sick after raiding a stash. The residual effects of a flash-bang grenade caused the fentanyl to become airborne and then inhaled. Since fentanyl can easily become airborne, it is important not to move or touch heroin or other substances that could contain it. This makes clearing a crime scene dangerous and more complicated for first responders and adds to the importance of fentanyl cleanup.

First responders are now trained to enter crime scenes with the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and are provided with guidelines as to how to handle a scene with fentanyl. Officers no longer handle powder substances for on-scene testing and they carry naloxone hydrochloride in order to reverse an opioid overdose on the scene before the first responders can be treated on site for an overdose before being treated in the hospital. Overdose by Touching Fentanyl

Fentanyl cleanup is crucial to ensure peoples safety after a crime scene is cleared. Since such small traces of fentanyl can be lethal, the scene must be thoroughly cleaned before the location of the lab can be re-entered. If any traces of fentanyl are left on-scene, people entering the area could touch it or inhale it accidentally, causing an Overdose and possibly death.

When a clandestine drug lab is found, one of the first questions in responders’ minds is whether or not fentanyl is on the scene. Since it has grown in popularity, it is found on its own and mixed with heroin, causing a danger to the first responders and anyone one scene after. Its lethality makes it crucial that fentanyl is properly cleaned by a decontamination company. Cop Overdoses after Touching Fentanyl